Speed-warning device



J. MATTHEWS SPEED WARNING DEVICE July 3i', 192s.

Filed June 25, 1927 1N VEN TOR ,laffe ./KaZWzezas ATTORNEYS H11 J U|\\|\Patented July 31, 1928.

UNITED STATES JESSE MATTHEWS, OF ABSECON, NEW JERSEY.

SPEED-'WARNING- DEVICE.

Application led June 25, 1927. Serial No. 201,407.

This invention relates to. an improved speed warning device which may beattached to the radiator cap, motor meter or to any other desired partof an automobile or other vehicle, and which will be operated by thepressure or movement of air to warn the driver when the car is beingdriven at a dangerous speed.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which includesa danger signal normally hid from view but caused to be elevated and beexposed when the speed of the car becomes excessive.

`With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certainnovel features of construction and combinations and arrangements ofparts which will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a View partly in elevation andpartly in vertical longitudinal section illustrating my improved deviceattached to the motor meter of an automobile;

Figure 2 is a view in longitudinal seetion on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view in transverse section on the line 3-3 ofFigure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in elevation illustrating a modification.

1 represents a post or upright which is preferably of metal and whichmay be attached to a motor meter 2, as shown in Figure 1, or it may beprovided with a screwthreaded stud 3 having nuts 4 thereon forattachment directly to a radiator cap. In fact, it is to be understoodthat my improved device may have any suitable means whereby it may beattached to any part of the vehicle desired.

The post or upright 1 is somewhat V- shaped at its upper end, preferablyhaving spherical enlargements 5 at its extremities. The post also has arecess 6 in its upper end communicating with a longitudinal bore 7 Inthe longitudinal bore 7 a vertical pin 8 is located and fixed at itslower end in the post. This pin S has a bifurcated upper end, and in thebifurcated portion a pair of' rollers 9, 9 is mounted in verticalalinement. These rollers project beyond the edges of the pin and engagethe walls of the tubular lower end 10 of a vertically movable member 11.

The member 11 at its lower extremity is made with inwardly projectingspring fingers 12 which not only serve to limit the downward movement ofthe member 11 but also limit the outward or upward movement of saidmember as they will engage the rollers. These spring fingers can beforced past the rollers for a complete removal of the member 11 or areassemblage of the parts as occasion may require.

The post l at the lower end of its bore 7 1s provided with drain outlets13 through llwhich water may pass if it collects in the ore.

I would call particular attention to the fact that the bore 7 andthetubular lower end of the member 11 are of somewhat oblong shape so asto prevent any turning movement of the member 1l within the post. As amatter of fact, the member 1l will be prevented from anyvsuch turningmovement by reason of the fact that it has a figure 12 integraltherewith or fixed thereto which is normally housed within the recess 6.This ligure preferably represents a skull although it may be of anydesired design. The rollers 9, 9 extend beyond the post and into groovesin the lower portion 10 of member 1l, which prevents any turningmovement of the part.

A pair of diverging wings 14, 14 is fixed to or made integral with theupper end of the member 11 and conforms in general contour to the upperend of the post. However, as clearly indicated in Figures 1 and 2, thesewing portions 14 are so shaped as to provide an entrance space or groove15 between the upper end of the post and the wings so as to admit air,and when the pressure of the air becomes excessive it will cause thesewings to elevate, elevating the member 11 and figure 12, whichconstitute a single operating unit.

It will also be noted that the extremities *of the wings 14 are somewhatcup-shaped, as

shown at 16, to rest over the spherical enlargements 5 when the gure ormovable member is in its lowered position.

The broad idea of this device is to provide a danger signal or a warningof danger. Hence the figure 12typiiies a skull which is normally hiddenfrom view but which when the speed of the car becomes excessive willmove upwardly and be exposed, and will fall back into its enclosure asthe speed decreases.

The invention is of course capable of a wide range of modification anddesign and in details of construction, and while I have illustrated whatI believe to be a preferred embodiment of my invention it is obviouslull that various changes and alterations may be made on the generalform of the parts described without departin from my invention and henceI do not llmit myself to the precise details set forth but considermyself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fallwithin the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described, including a hollow post, avertically movable member mounted in the post and normally hid fromview, and means on the upper end of the member so shaped that an airentrance is provided between the same and the post so that said memberis elevated by the action of air against the edge of said member whenthe speed of the vehicle to which the post is secured becomes excessive.

2. A device of the character described, including a hollow ost, avertically movable member mounted in the post and normally hid fromview, and means on the upper end of the member causing said member to beelevated by the action of air against the said means when the speed ofthe vehicle to which the ost is secured becomes excessive, said mem rhaving a danger signal in the form of a figure constituting a partthereof and normally enclosed in the post.

3. A device of the character described, including a post having aV-shaped up er end and having a recess 1n its upper en and alongitudinal bore communicating with the recess, a vertically movablemember enclosed in the recess of the longitudinal bore, and

wings fixed to the member and resting upon the V-shaped upper end of thepost, said wings disposed at an angle and so positioned relative to thepost as to provide an air inlet under said wings.

4. A device of the character described, including a post having alongitudinal bore, a pin fixed in said bore, rollers carried by said pinand projecting from the surface of the pin, a vertically movable memberhaving a tubular lower end receiving the pin and engaged by the rollers,a figure constituting a part of the vertically movable member andnormally enclosed in the post, and wings on the upper end of the movablemember above the post adapted to be engaged by the wind to cause themember to elevate and move the figure into position where it ma he seen.

5. A device of the character (lbscribed, including a post having alongitudinal bore, a pin fixed in said bore, rollers carried by said pinand projecting from the surface of the pin, a vertically movable memberhaving a tubular lower end receiving the pin and engaged by the rollers,a figure constitutin a part of the vertically movable member an normallyenclosed in the post, wings on the upper end of the vertically movablemember above the post adapted to be engaged by the wind to cause themember to elevate and eX- pose the ligure, and spring lin ers on thelower end of the movable mem r limiting the downward and upwardmovements of said member.

JESSE MATTHEWS.

